Old Wineskins

Sermon for 5 February 2023

I finished my series of messages on the epistles not written by Paul back before Christmas. I decided then I would present a new series on some of the parables of Jesus. My last message, two weeks ago, was the introduction to the series. I have two study Bibles. My old one that I keep up at the river lists 29 parables, while my new one lists 39! It would seem that what does and does not constitute a parable varies with the reader. Or, at least, varies with the experts who write the comments in the study Bibles. I came to that conclusion simply by comparing the two lists. Comparing the two lists also triggered several questions that the PhDs do not address.

There are no parables in the Book of John. I find that interesting. I can find no reason that John failed to record a single moralistic story of Jesus in any of his writings. The experts do not address the question. We find parables in the books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Some in all three, several only in Luke, more than a few in Matthew, but only two that are recorded only in Mark. I think it is because the book of Mark was written after Matthew and Luke, thus, Mark, (or Peter) had access to their writings. Mark included the parables he thought were the most important along with the two he knew about and the others didn’t.

As I scrolled down the list in my new study Bible I skipped over the first two, lamp under a basket, and build on solid ground because I though those were too obvious. That got me to the one about a new patch on an old garment and new wine in old wineskins. I thought these were similar enough that I could cover them in one message then I began to examine them. The first thing that struck me was that they are recorded in all three Gospels. When I read them, it becomes pretty obvious that Mark copied Matthew. The two versions are almost identical, but I like Luke’s much better. It is more comprehensive, and contains information not in the other two. Does anyone know the significance of the stories being in the book of Luke? Luke wasn’t there. He wrote a research paper with the women followers as his source. So, the events leading up to the stories of old patches and old wineskins were witness by both his women followers and the men. (Matthew reports from the male perspective.)

As I said, Luke’s account is my favorite. Luke begins with the selection of Matthew (also known as Levi) as Jesus’s disciple. Matthew invited all his tax collector buddies to a big party honoring Jesus. The holier-than-thou group asked Jesus why he partied with riff raff and sinners. Jesus responded that, “It is not those who are well who need a physician but those who are sick.” I get the message. It doesn’t make sense to send missionaries to convert believers, but I wonder why this is not listed as one of the parables of Jesus. The Pharisees go on to ask why the followers of Jesus were not fasting. Fasting is voluntary under The Law of Moses except for the Day of Atonement. Instead of explaining the law to the bureaucrats, Jesus tells a short story about the attendants of the bridegroom. I get this one, Jesus is the bridegroom and will not be with them long, but why is this story not included as a parable? After telling the Pharisees that His attendants will fast after He is gone, Jesus tells the two parables without further ado. The first is about putting a new patch on an old garment and the second is a warning not to put new wine into old wineskins.

I understand the metaphors. Before we had preshrunk cloth the patch from new material would shrink while the old garment would not, and the patch would tear away. As for the old wineskin- has anyone here made wine? My Grandmother did. She would put the juice and sugar in a gallon jug and place a balloon over the top. As the juice fermented the balloon would expand. Wineskins were made of animal (usually goat or sheep) skins. New skins would stretch to accommodate the expansion while old skins were inelastic and would burst. I understand, but what is the lesson. The expert commentators tell me that Jesus is alluding to his new teachings versus the old law, and teaching that the two are not compatible. I see that, but it’s a stretch for me. Especially when I read the last line, “No one, after drinking old wine wishes for new, for he says the old is good enough.” If the teaching of Jesus is the new wine, you and I would not say the old is good enough. I am lost here. The expert says that those who are accustomed to the old law are hesitant to accept the new. Even if I accept that logic, I still miss the point Jesus is trying to make.

I have heard Brian say in several Children’s sermons that the answer to any question is always Jesus or God. For you adults here the answer is always love. I need someone to convince me that Love is the answer to why we don’t use new cloth the make patches or put new wine in old wineskins. I am sure that love is the answer, but I jut don’t get it. And maybe that is OK. Maybe I am not ready to make the connection.

Pray with me. Our Heavenly Father, you gave us scripture as a guidebook for living. Please forgive me if my Christian development is inadequate to understand all the guidance You gave us. I will continue to pray for answers. Amen